The influence of Th1/Th2 and CD4⁺ regulatory t cells of mesenteric lymph nodes on systemic lipopolysaccharide

Our aims were to study the influence of the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of rats on systemic lipopolysaccharide and to identify the factor that affects the intestinal endotoxin translocation.

Ninety-six male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group (S group) and a cecal ligation and perforation group (CLP group). Twenty-four hours after modeling, we tested the Th1/Th2 ratio and percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg in the MLN. At the same time, the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the abdominal aortic blood was detected.

In the CLP group, the Th1/Th2 ratio was obviously lower than in the S group. Otherwise, the percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg of the CLP group was significantly higher than the S group. In the abdominal aortic blood, the LPS level of the CLP group was also higher than in the S group. Through correlation analysis, we found that the level of LPS was positively correlated with the percentage of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg, and negatively correlated with the Th1/Th2 ratio.

This model reveals that the immune suppression of the MLN might affect the level of LPS in the abdominal aortic blood, which might play a certain role in affecting the endotoxin translocation.